Edison Jr. – The Value of Asking

One of the hardest things to do is to evaluate the potential of your invention. The inventions with the most potential are the ones that are a means to a solution, it solves something, or takes away a problem people may have.

Devin White

ALL inventors get attached to their own ideas and the best way to make a developed idea better is to get feedback from the general public, or maybe even focused to the demographic you are looking to hit with your invention. Questions like:

If there was a way to solve _____ would you buy the solution?

Does _____ create a big problem for you, or is _____ just really annoying?

Would you buy a product that _____?

Is _____ a reasonable price for a product that _____?

Have you ever heard of a product that ____?

These are just a few questions you could possible ask around with. Questions like these will help you:

Develop a better understanding for what people are willing to buy.

Develop a better sense of people’s interest in your product.

Perhaps other competition in your field that already exists.

Improve your product so that it is more appealing to the market.

Even take things away from your product that people don’t like.

There’s no way around it. Asking people their opinions about your idea is the best way to find out if there is consumer interest in your product. You shouldn’t give every detail about your product in order to keep your idea safe, but the answers you get from people will tell you so much about your invention.

While asking friends and family can be helpful, it’s best to ask a wider audience. Friends and family are likely to tell you what you want to hear. Asking around will improve the invention, and more important, help you gain consumer perspective, for all future inventions. Let’s Show the World… Don’t Stop Thinking.